Lubricator for fluid motors



J. M. TEMPLETON June 1 1926.

LUBRICATOR FOR FLUID MOTORS Filed Dec. '7, 19 25 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ii'l i t; J 1 L 0 W3 A TTORNEYS J. M. TEMPLETON LUBRICATOR FOR FLUID MOTORS June 1 1926. 1,586,954

Filed Dec. 7. 1925 s Sheets- Sheet z BY WS M m A TTORNEYS.

June 1 1926. 1,586,954

J. M. TEMPLETON LUBRIGATOR FOR FLUI-D MOTORS 0 Filed Dec. '7 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w q\ EN l Q @314 TTORNEYS.

Patented June 1, 19 26.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JOHN mmnocn TEMPLETON,- or :onannnsnune. scorn AFRICA, nssmnon 'ro vacuum OIL COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.,' A oonrona'rron on NEW YORK.

LUBRICATOR FOR, FLUID MOTORS.

.. Application filed December 7, 1925, Serial No.

The present invention relates to lubricators for fluid motors such as jack-hammers, rock drills, 'riveters, stoppers, tietampers, etc., and an object of the invention is-to provide a lubricator which will utilizefthe pressure in the fluid line leading to the motor for eifecting the operation of the lubricator. A further object of the invention is to feed the lubricant to the fluid line under the pressure of .the fluid line so that the fluid carries the lubricant into the fluid motor in an atomized condition.

."To these and other ends, the, invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter de scribed: the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings I Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof an air pressure operated rock drill equipped withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one embodiment of the lubricator, showing the'piston in the position it occupies when the lubricator 1s filled with a lubricant;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through another embodiment showing the position of the piston when the lubricator is filled with the lubricant;

Fig. 4 is'a section of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, showing the position of the,

piston when the lubricator is empty Fig.5 is a longitudinal section through still another embodiment of the invention designed for use onjack hammers;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a jack hammer of known. construction, showing I the position of the lubricator;

' drill, and anotheriarm. of which connects with the lubricator. The valve 2 of the air line is arrangedin advance ofthe T .3 so- Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views through two other embodiments of the invention; and

Fig.9 is an enlarged section on the line 99, Fig. 8. r Referring first 'to' the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and2, 1 indicates a rock drill of known construction, which has an air. line 2 connected'thereto, preferably by a T 3, one arm of which connects with the air line 2, another arm of which connects with the intake of air motor of the rock that air'pressure to the 'lubricator is cut off with the stopping of the motor.

73,555, and in South Africa December 5, 1924.

The lubricator as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises-a cylinder 4 having a removable head 5 at one end thereof secured by screws 6 and formed with a cylindrical projection 7 extending into" the cylinder in spaced relation to the inner wall thereof to provide. an annular space or chamber ,8 at one end of the cylinof the skirt and the lubricant chamber being formed at 14 between the end of the projection 7 and the inner face of the piston. The outer face of the piston opposed to the integral wall 15 of the cylinder has a packing preferably in cupped form as at 16 secured thereto by a screw 17 and a disk 18 so as'to provide between the piston and the head 15 a chamber for the air. It is apparent that the eflfective pressure area of the piston exposed to the lubricant is less than that exposed to the air. As the skirt 13 moves back and forth it operates in the annular chamber 8, and in order to prvide for free movement of the piston the head .5 has openings 19 communicating with said chamber-8. These openings also supply atmospheric pressure tothe edge of the skirt 13 and this edge provides an area-substantially equal to the difference between the efl'ectivepressure areas exposed to the air and the lubricant.- Air is admitted to the air chamber pre'fefi .ably throu h apassageway 20 formed in the integra head 15 of the cylinder and through an'externally threaded boss or attaching part 2l-which projects from said head, and-engages with anarm of the T 3,

so that air maybe admitted into the air 'chamber of the lubricator from the air line to move the piston toexpel the lubricant.

into the air hne. If desired, as the piston reaches the limit of its expelling movement the air may be permitted to escape through one or more ports 22 formed in'the wall of the-cylinder and covered during the expel ling movement of the skirt 13. The escape of air performs two functions, namely, signalling the user of the machine thatthe lubricator is empty and at the same time ber;

. projection 21.

notifying the user that an additional lubri-' cant is required.

The lubricant in this embodiment is fed to the cylinder 14 through an opening closed by a plug 23 and this opening leads to a passageway 24 extending through the proj0Ctl0l1 7 of the removable head to the lubricant chamber 14. The lubricant flows from the chamber 14 through the passageway 24 and port 25 in the head and through a passageway 26 in the cylinder leading to and through the boss or projection 21. If desired, a short tube 27 may connect with this passageway and project into the T or connection 3, so that the air of the air supply pipe 2 flows past this tube or nozzle 27 and produces an atomizing effect on the lubricant issuing from said atomizing nozzle and carries the oil into the air motor with the air supply. The amount of lubricant fed to the air motor may be controlled by a needle valve 28 at the junction of the ports 25 and 26, and operable from the exterior of the cylinder.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the parts are the same except that there are slight differences in form and that the lubricant discharge leads through the piston head instead of through the projecting portion of the head of-the cylinder. In this embodiment 4 indicates the cylinder, 5 the head, 7 the projecting portion of the head, 8 the annular cylinder between the cylinder head and the main wall of the cylinder, and 9 the cup packing on the cylinder head, secured by a plate 11 and rivets 12 indicates the differential piston with the skirt 13 movable in the annular chamber 8 which is open to the atmosphere through ports 19. The intake plug 23 closes the filling opening and may be in the form of a Valve through which lubricant may be forced by a lubricant gun of any suitable type. The solid head 15 of the cylinder has' a boss or projection 21 through which the air inlet 20 leads to the air cham- From the lubricant chamber 14, two passages or ports 24 lead to a passage 26 which is controlled by an adjustable needle valve 28. An atomizing tube 27 connects with the passage 26 and to the piston head 12 and is guidedin the externally threaded In all positions this tube 27 projects preferably from the end of the projection 21. The valve 28 in this instance, can be adjusted by removing the head 5 or by removing the filling plug 23 and cannot therefore be accidentally or maliciously adjusted.

Inthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the lubricator is made a part of the pneumatic tool, which, inthis instance, is a jack hammer. The lubricator is utilized as a handle for the tool. The cylinder 4 is elongated and the head 5 is secured in place by a ring 6 threaded internally and engaging external threads on the cylinder 4. This head has a shoulder 29 engaging the end of the cylinder and an annular shoulder 30 engaged by the ring. The projection 7" of the head is elongated and is spaced from the interior wall of the cylinder at 8". A packing 9 is carried by the inner end of this projection and the piston 12 has an elongated skirt l3 operating in the space 8, said piston carrying the packing opposed to the wall 15 to provide the air chamber. The filling opening is closed by a valve plug 23 and a lubricant outlet extends centrally through the head 7" as at 24" to a port 25". This port '25 connects by a port 26 with the part of the tool or motor to be lubricated. In this instance, the port 26 leads through one of the supporting arms 29 to the cylinder 30 of the jack hammer. The other support 31 connects by a tubing 32 with the air supply 33 of the jack hammer. From this bracket 31 the air leads by a channel 20 in the wall of the cylinder 4* to the air chamber of the lubricator. The control of the flow of the lubricant may be efi'ected by an adjustable needle valve 28". A port 1 9 servesto admit air to the chamber 8" so as to subject the edge of the skirt of the piston to atmospheric pressure, and a port 22 serves as a combined sight indicator and blow off. In this construction it will be noted that the lubricator acts as a handle for the jack hammer and the lubricant passage extends through one supporting arm or bracket of the handle to the motor of the jack hammer whereas the air passage leads through the other supporting arm or bracket from the air supply to the handle or lubricator;

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 the cylinder 4 has a head 15 closing one end and the other end has an opening 8 surrounded by a flange or sleeve 32. The piston 12 has a packing 16 on one side and a reduced portion or cylindrical plunger 13 on the opposite side extending through and guided in the opening 8, a packing 9 being secured to the walls of the opening of the cylinder 4 to surround the projecting plunger 13 and form a tight joint therewith. On one side of the piston 12 a chamber 14 is formed and on the opposite side of said piston a chamber for the air is provided which is received in such chamber-through the port 20 in the threaded projection 21. The plunger 13 makes the efi'e'ctive area of the piston contacting 24 is prevented. The lubricant is supplied to the chamber 14; by means of an axially extending passageway 35 in plunger 13 hav-' ing a lateral port 36, this passageway having at one end a valved filling plug 23 with which a suitable grease gun may be connected. This form of the invention has no audible alarm, but the sleeve 32 encloses the valved filling plug 23 and is of such a length that when the lubricant chamber is empty, thevalved filling plug which suppliesthe lubricant will project from the sleeve 32 and acts as a visual signal.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the cylinder 4 has at one end a closure 15? and at the opposite end a closure 7. This cylinder has two bores 36 and 37 of diflerent diameters. In the chamber formed by the bore 36 is a piston part 12 carrying a packing 16, "whereas in the chamber formed by the bore 37 is a piston part 38- carrying a packing 9. These two piston parts are connected to form a differential piston by a tie member 39. Between the wall'15 and the piston member 12, an

air chamber is formed and this, through a port 20, connects with the nipple or projection 21 The space between these two piston parts communicates with the atmosphere througha port 22* which is so situatedthat piston part 12 pases over it, to permit air to escape from the air chamber.

Between the piston member 38 and the wall 7 a chamber 14 is formed for thelubri- The chamber 14 is filled through a lubri-' cant plug 23 secured in the closure 7 and.

normally covered by a cap 42.

In all embodiments, of the invention, a motor driven by a compressed fluid from 'a compressed fluid supply is lubricated automatically through the means of alubricator,

wherein a piston member substantially of the differential type is provided. This piston member consists of a single piece or a number of pieces jointed together so as to form a single operative member, one face of the piston member. being opposed to the compressed fluid and the opposed face, due to the diflerential construction, being exposed in partto the lubricant and in part to atmospheric pressure, thus producing a pressure on the lubricant greater than that in the compressed fluid. It is evident that this lubricator may be employed for machines operated b other compressed fluids than compresse air, so it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the use of compressed air for effecting the movement of the differential piston. 'It is preferred, however, to use a fluid which is also used for propelling the motor to be lubricated so that one source of energy may be used for the two purposes. Preferably the lubricant is fed to the air supplyand atomized by the latter so as to be carried into the motor with the air.; It is apparent, however, that this is not necessary and that the lubricant can be fed to any oneor more parts of the motor requiring lubrication. Provision is made for signalling when the lubricating device is empty and for retarding the action of the let for the lubricant are arranged at one end of'the cylinder and extend through an externally threaded projection enabling the lubricating device to be readily attached to a coupling member in the air line of a pneumatic motor. v

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a fluid motor, of a fi'uidpressure operated. lubricatorfor the motor connected with the fluid supply of the motor to be operated by said fluid supply and dischargingin said fluid supply so that the fluid carries the lubricant to the motor,

said lubricator having a fluid pressure exhaust port arranged to be uncovered automatically when the lubricant is exhausted to produce an' audible signal and simultaneously slow the motor.

2. ,The combination with a fluid motor, of a fluid pressure operated lubricator for the motor comprising a cylinder, a head having a projection extending into the cylinder to provide an annular space, a piston providing'a lubricant chamber between it and the head and having a skirt operatingin the space between the'projection and the inner wall of the cylinder and means for admitting fluid to the cylinder'on opposite sides of the piston, said cylinder being provided with a fluid pressure exhaust port arranged to be covered by the piston when there is lubricant within the lubricant chamber and adapted to be automaticallyuncovered by the piston when the lubricant is exhausted,

whereby the fluid pressure is permitted to escape to produce an audible signal and simultaneously slow down the motor.

3. In a lubricator'of a'type adapted to in-' troduce regulated quantities of lubricant into a compressed fluid supply, the combination of a movable piston member having a plurality of'piston faces, one piston face being actuated by the compressed fluid, an opposed piston face of lesser area being presented to the lubricant, and a similarly-directioned piston face of an effective area approximately equal to the difference between the two before mentioned areas, being presented to atmospheric pressure; a cylinder member,

adapted to function with said piston memher to form a compartment for compressed fluid and a compartment for lubricant, said cylinder compartments being of changing ing from the compartment for lubricant,-.

said discharge leading to the compressed fluid supply, the cylinder being provided with an opening arranged to be automatically uncovered by the piston when the lubricant supply is exhausted and through which the compressed fluid may escape to produce an audible signal and slow down the motor to which the lubricator is connected. I

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOHN MURDOCH TEMPLETON. 

